Will County Gazette

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) suspects Democrats may have grown tired of trying to avoid what was directly staring them in the face when they ousted Mike Madigan as Illinois House Speaker.

“Eventually, you have to pay attention to all the scandals and admit to yourself what they represent,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “If Springfield is to ever have a chance, Mike Madigan had to go.”

After nearly four decades of being under Madigan’s control, lawmakers banded together during the lame-duck session earlier this month to finally put an end to his rule, installing Rep. Emmanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) as his successor, WGN reported.    

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) | File image

The state’s longest running lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks are alleged to have been steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. A Special House Committee also was convened to look into his role in the matter with expulsion from the House being among the penalties he could have faced.

Batinick takes note of Welch vowing to be the antithesis of who he said Madigan has always proven himself to be.

“The new speaker is making a lot of promises about working together and do what’s best for the people of Illinois,” he told the Will County Gazette. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m definitely hoping he means what he says.”

Given his close ties to Madigan, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider has doubts about Welch being the right man to clean up Springfield’s mess, the Illinois Republic Party reported. He referred to Welch's own troubles, which include having faced multiple accusations in court documents of harassing, assaulting and retaliating against women.

“House Democrats have chosen to go from Mike Madigan, the most corrupt politician in America, to Rep. Chris Welch, a top Madigan lieutenant who has been credibly accused by multiple women in court documents of harassment, assault, and retaliation,” he said, the Illnois GOP reported. “It’s now clear that House Democrats are doubling down on allowing Madigan’s corrupt machine to continue running state government.”